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Linebackers (or lack thereof)

This board incessantly discusses our need for linebackers. We are not spending money to get one or drafting one high, so get over it!

We, as the team is currently set up with these coaches DO NOT VALUE THE LB POSITION. This is not the glory days of the 80s. They have made this abundantly clear.
Whether it be the nascar package with only 2 lbs or the 3 safety look with only 2 lbs, we do not line up 3 lbs a good portion of the time.
We are bringing in athletic guys on the cheap like rivers and curry because we feel like when we do run our lbs out there, we need someone to match up with either a TE or a QB (vick/RGIII). This is why we bring in guys like kiwi, williams, or even cooper (even though hes technically a safety).

Our current defensive philosophy devalues LB position in comparison to what we ran in the past. For this reason we will not spend big money or picks on LB's, especially since the last one was a complete bust (sintim). If Perry Fewell were no longer the DC, things could change but until then, this is how our D will be run.

I love what the GMEN have done this offseason and signing cruz long term would be the cherry on top. GO GMEN.

I agree with what you're saying because I feel like our Dline is the foundation of the defense but I also think we're becoming very thin at LB. If one of our starters has an injury (which is very possible) well have a bunch of no names filling in which could be a huge problem when you think of the tight ends in this division.

Question: How many Super Bowls have the Giants won when the linebackers play well?
Answer: 4

Bottom line: The Giants defense sucked for many reasons last season, and the mediocre play of the linebackers was a big reason. The linebackers did not get any help from the front 4, but I still expect them to make a friggin play on their own every now and then.

Boley was a stud in 2011, and then was banged up last year, and it hurt the unit's effectiveness.
Williams is a promising linebacker, but his technique and toughness need to improve.
Chase was Chase....he needs help on both sides, because he doesn't have the speed to cover for his teammates.

Boley and Chase are both gone, and Reese replaced Chase with someone who is hopefully better than his run-of-the-mill career stats would indicate.

I really hope DaMontre Moore and/or Cooper Taylor can help patch things up by handling the duties that are normally required of linebackers. I hope Dan Connor takes his career to a new level. I hope that Rivers can stay healthy - it would be the first time in his otherwise lackluster career. I have no hope for Aaron Curry.

Sorry, but that's the situation......I'm living on alot of hope right now as it pertains to the linebackers.

Because as history shows, when they don't get the job done, neither does this defense.

Last edited by joemorrisforprez; 05-09-2013 at 11:07 AM.

"I like linebackers. I collect 'em. You can't have too many good ones." - Bill Parcells

again, im not saying we dont need lbs, or that i dont think its an important position for success, its just the defensive philosophy of this coaching staff does not place a ton of value on it.

I'm holding out hope that stuff I don't see as a fan is happening behind the scenes - plans for the new draft picks (Moore & Cooper) as hybrids; maybe Dan Connor is an upgrade to Chase; maybe Rivers can shake the injury bug that plagued him.

Of all the guys on the team, J-Will is the one that I am most optimistic about. He's got great speed, and I don't think he's hit his ceiling yet by any means. I seem him as a logical successor to Boley.

Moore played OLB before switching to DE, and Taylor is basically a linebacker-sized safety.

I can only speak for myself. I've loved this team all my life, from the days when I was a little kid and my old man explained to me what was going on. I grew up watching truly great defense, and legendary linebackers.

So for me, it's a bummer watching what I saw in 2012 - soft, confused defense, with linebackers that were never in the backfield disrupting the opponent. Then, going into the offseason, we lose our best linebacker (Boley), let our hardest working linebacker (Chase) walk to the Panthers for chump change, and sign some dude (Connor) that really hasn't done anything to scare an offense.

What's done is done.....the draft is over. I'm hoping for the best, because that's basically I all can go on until I see something different from last year's 31st ranked crew.

"I like linebackers. I collect 'em. You can't have too many good ones." - Bill Parcells

This board incessantly discusses our need for linebackers. We are not spending money to get one or drafting one high, so get over it!

We, as the team is currently set up with these coaches DO NOT VALUE THE LB POSITION. This is not the glory days of the 80s. They have made this abundantly clear.
Whether it be the nascar package with only 2 lbs or the 3 safety look with only 2 lbs, we do not line up 3 lbs a good portion of the time.
We are bringing in athletic guys on the cheap like rivers and curry because we feel like when we do run our lbs out there, we need someone to match up with either a TE or a QB (vick/RGIII). This is why we bring in guys like kiwi, williams, or even cooper (even though hes technically a safety).

Our current defensive philosophy devalues LB position in comparison to what we ran in the past. For this reason we will not spend big money or picks on LB's, especially since the last one was a complete bust (sintim). If Perry Fewell were no longer the DC, things could change but until then, this is how our D will be run.

I love what the GMEN have done this offseason and signing cruz long term would be the cherry on top. GO GMEN.

**Rant over.

This is exaclty why the FO is much less eager than the fans to upgrade the LB position.